Aloe Blacc Has His Eye On Leo DiCaprio + 3 Other Things You Need To Know About “The Man”

The singer that woke us all up on Avicii’s hit record last fall is now “The Man” at VH1. That’s right, Aloe Blacc is the latest You Oughta Know Artist. The R&B singer joins the likes of Adele, Bruno Mars, Estelle and Leona Lewis. All of these performers created a unique blend of pop, R&B and soul, something Blacc is doing on his latest record, Lift Your Spirit (out now).

If you’re not familiar with Blacc, that’s okay because we’ve got you covered with four essential things you need to know about him. For instance, the singer has his eye on Leonardo DiCaprio. “Why,” you might be asking yourself. That’s because Blacc wants the Oscar-nominated actor to portray him in a biopic.

The other things you need to know:

Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III became Aloe Blacc in 1995 when he modeled his stagename after Q-Tip. “He named himself after the item you use to clean your ears with because that’s what he thought he represented as an MC,” Blacc explains. “I felt like my rhyme style was smooth like lotion so I named myself Aloe.”

The main lyrics for “Wake Me Up” with Avicii were written on his cellphone on an airplane.

Nothing trumps a suit, that’s why you’ll always see the singer looking dapper at any show or red carpet.

If you haven’t done so, watch the brand new video for “The Man,” which draws its inspiration from Marvin Gaye.